Top 5 Coolest Vacation Spots In North Carolina

I don't have to tell you how hot it is. As a matter of fact, Charlotte was just ranked among the top sweatiest cities in the whole country. Time to cool off and we know just the spots. Here are the top 5 coolest vacation spots in North Carolina.

Escape underground, enjoy the cool mist of a waterfall or ride the waves at one of North Carolina's beautiful beaches. When it comes to fun places to cool off, North Carolina has an abundance. Here is one of my favorites. According to visitnc.com, head towards the high country.

It has been years but this year I will be going back to Linville Caverns in Marion, North Carolina. I love to hike the trails there in Linville. Check out the gorgeous waterfalls and then head to the caverns where it is always around 52 degrees. See what the mountains look like from the inside. It's another beautiful world down there.

Head up a little higher. Now just a little bit higher. And head to Grandfather Mountain. Ahhh, it is gorgeous up there, almost always with a cool breeze and stunning views. While you are there you might as well cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Yes, it is a mile up and you just can't beat the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from up there.

Head to Brevard, North Carolina for your choice of 250 waterfalls in explore. According to Visit North Carolina,  Looking Glass Falls is one of North Carolina’s most popular waterfalls, and Whitewater Falls – known as the “king” of waterfalls – is considered the highest cascade in the East. Another one of the coolest vacation spots in North Carolina is in Midland. Check out the Reed Gold Mine. It's the birthplace of gold finds in the United States. And it's 55 degrees while you explore.

If you have a budding marine biologist in the house like I do this might be just the thing. Check out Wet Wildlife World in Pine Knoll Shores. The aquarium there contains 306,000 gallons of water with a Living Shipwreck. It features a replica of a sunken World War Two German submarine. Check out tiger sharks and other super cool marine life there.

Ever since I was a little kid, spending time outdoors had been a simple joy for me. I just love nature and the magic of waterfalls. North Carolina has glorious hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls that will awaken your mind.

Since I am a true waterfall junkie, I decided to compile a list of different hiking spots and waterfalls I have visited. Here are 11 of the most beautiful waterfalls North Carolina has to offer. Please always use caution and be safe when visiting these locations.

My newest adventure was to High Falls at Lake Glenville. It was beautiful! It is located just below the dam for Lake Glenville on the West Fork Tuckasegee River near Cashiers in Jackson County. This is a 150-oot waterfall. It's a really awesome location. Start planning your trip here.

This is one of the most popular waterfalls in North Carolina. Looking Glass Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that has a glorious swimming pool at the bottom. Nearby are Sliding Rock and the Forest Discovery Center at Cradle of Forestry.

Harper Creek Falls is a perfect spot to have an adventure. This is a secret gem that is a must-see. The hike is 2.8-miles and you can continue for a 5-mile hike doing the full loop. You start with a bang hiking a rather steep incline, but the result is heavenly. Harper Creek Falls is in two main sections, the top being a little higher than the bottom, and there lies a pool in the bedrock between the slides. When it's warm, you can swim and the hike to the falls is moderately rough.

I love this place. So much. I guess this technically is three waterfalls, but I'm just going to loop it into one for the sake of time. It gets very crowded in the Summer though, so go early. The park recently changed the rules and parking is not allowed on the side of the road. You can see more on planning a visit here.

Wow! This state park is a great way to spend your day. You can hike to see the 200-ft sliding waterfall and the Blue Ridge Mountains. High Shoal Falls Loop is filled with cascading waterfall views that I highly recommend. You can see more on Stone Mountain State Park and plan your own little day trip adventure HERE!

South Mountain State Park is located only about an hour and twenty minutes outside of Charlotte and features beautiful hiking trails, an 80-foot waterfall, and perfect streams for trout fishing. They have such a great hike to High Shoals Falls. You can see more of my adventures in this state park here.

When I moved here, this was one of my first big hikes. Catawba Falls Trail is a two-mile adventure east of Asheville. Views range from a mossy, shady forest valley to a beautiful series of waterfalls along the Catawba River. You can see more.

This was a fun hidden waterfall. There is a 6-foot deep pool you can jump off into. It is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway and is only a 3/4 mile hike. A trailhead for Skinny Dip Falls is across the Blue Ridge Parkway from the parking area (no signs directing you to the waterfall) but you can find the path at the "417" milepost. You can plan your escape here.

Tom's Creek Falls is located between Marion and Little Switzerland. This beautiful 80-foot tall waterfall is an easy one-mile round-trip hike. There were only a few people there when I hiked it and if you ever find yourself in the area, it is a perfect place to relax, enjoy a picnic and just appreciate how beautiful our natural wonders are. One cool thing about these falls is the sparkling rocks. I later found out with some research that this is mica that was once mined here. The plate-like crystals are really pretty to look at and they glisten in the sun.

This is a double waterfall located on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. You can access it via a short walk from US Highway 19, just 1.5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway (at Milepost 455.7). t takes less than five minutes to walk to the observation deck to view the taller falls, which are 120-ft. You can see more here.

This spot is so much fun. I recommend wearing pants when you slide down. Sliders patiently line up and wait their turn as one-by-one they ride the chilly water (50-60 degrees!) down the 60-foot flat, sloping boulder. You can see more on planning a visit here.

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Ever since I was a little kid, spending time outdoors had been a simple joy for me. I just love nature and the magic of waterfalls. North Carolina has glorious hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls that will awaken your mind.

Since I am a true waterfall junkie, I decided to compile a list of different hiking spots and waterfalls I have visited. Here are 11 of the most beautiful waterfalls North Carolina has to offer. Please always use caution and be safe when visiting these locations.

My newest adventure was to High Falls at Lake Glenville. It was beautiful! It is located just below the dam for Lake Glenville on the West Fork Tuckasegee River near Cashiers in Jackson County. This is a 150-oot waterfall. It's a really awesome location. Start planning your trip here.

This is one of the most popular waterfalls in North Carolina. Looking Glass Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that has a glorious swimming pool at the bottom. Nearby are Sliding Rock and the Forest Discovery Center at Cradle of Forestry.

Harper Creek Falls is a perfect spot to have an adventure. This is a secret gem that is a must-see. The hike is 2.8-miles and you can continue for a 5-mile hike doing the full loop. You start with a bang hiking a rather steep incline, but the result is heavenly. Harper Creek Falls is in two main sections, the top being a little higher than the bottom, and there lies a pool in the bedrock between the slides. When it's warm, you can swim and the hike to the falls is moderately rough.

I love this place. So much. I guess this technically is three waterfalls, but I'm just going to loop it into one for the sake of time. It gets very crowded in the Summer though, so go early. The park recently changed the rules and parking is not allowed on the side of the road. You can see more on planning a visit here.

Wow! This state park is a great way to spend your day. You can hike to see the 200-ft sliding waterfall and the Blue Ridge Mountains. High Shoal Falls Loop is filled with cascading waterfall views that I highly recommend. You can see more on Stone Mountain State Park and plan your own little day trip adventure HERE!

South Mountain State Park is located only about an hour and twenty minutes outside of Charlotte and features beautiful hiking trails, an 80-foot waterfall, and perfect streams for trout fishing. They have such a great hike to High Shoals Falls. You can see more of my adventures in this state park here.

When I moved here, this was one of my first big hikes. Catawba Falls Trail is a two-mile adventure east of Asheville. Views range from a mossy, shady forest valley to a beautiful series of waterfalls along the Catawba River. You can see more.

This was a fun hidden waterfall. There is a 6-foot deep pool you can jump off into. It is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway and is only a 3/4 mile hike. A trailhead for Skinny Dip Falls is across the Blue Ridge Parkway from the parking area (no signs directing you to the waterfall) but you can find the path at the "417" milepost. You can plan your escape here.

Tom's Creek Falls is located between Marion and Little Switzerland. This beautiful 80-foot tall waterfall is an easy one-mile round-trip hike. There were only a few people there when I hiked it and if you ever find yourself in the area, it is a perfect place to relax, enjoy a picnic and just appreciate how beautiful our natural wonders are. One cool thing about these falls is the sparkling rocks. I later found out with some research that this is mica that was once mined here. The plate-like crystals are really pretty to look at and they glisten in the sun.

This is a double waterfall located on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. You can access it via a short walk from US Highway 19, just 1.5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway (at Milepost 455.7). t takes less than five minutes to walk to the observation deck to view the taller falls, which are 120-ft. You can see more here.

This spot is so much fun. I recommend wearing pants when you slide down. Sliders patiently line up and wait their turn as one-by-one they ride the chilly water (50-60 degrees!) down the 60-foot flat, sloping boulder. You can see more on planning a visit here.

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